"Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloodthirsty men." (Psalm 59:2)
This is not just a poetic utterance. There were people after David who wanted blood, his blood, his death. Psalms 56-60 from today's Psalms reading reveal the constant struggle of David just to stay alive, to survive attempts to do away with him, to kill him.
Since we arrived, I have really been experiencing a sense of the same evil of, "bloodthirsty men," and women here in Germany over 80 years ago. It did not start 80 years ago, but it reached a zenith in the 1930s and '40s. Our text is an example of a Covenant man, one who, "had God's heart," enduring intense persecution and attempted murder. David did not get "special treatment." Yet the mystery remains as to why some Followers of Jesus throughout the centuries have experienced so much more suffering and death than others.
One reason Paul said, "Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might," is that we, "may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places," every day of our lives. We are really sensing the reality of this passage more than previous missions here in Berlin (also, see Daniel 10). Whatever we face here or you face where you are right now, we have the same assurance as David, "The Lord is my light and my salvation....The Lord Jesus is the strength of my life...."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that I am Yours and You are mine. Amen.
This is not just a poetic utterance. There were people after David who wanted blood, his blood, his death. Psalms 56-60 from today's Psalms reading reveal the constant struggle of David just to stay alive, to survive attempts to do away with him, to kill him.
Since we arrived, I have really been experiencing a sense of the same evil of, "bloodthirsty men," and women here in Germany over 80 years ago. It did not start 80 years ago, but it reached a zenith in the 1930s and '40s. Our text is an example of a Covenant man, one who, "had God's heart," enduring intense persecution and attempted murder. David did not get "special treatment." Yet the mystery remains as to why some Followers of Jesus throughout the centuries have experienced so much more suffering and death than others.
One reason Paul said, "Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might," is that we, "may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places," every day of our lives. We are really sensing the reality of this passage more than previous missions here in Berlin (also, see Daniel 10). Whatever we face here or you face where you are right now, we have the same assurance as David, "The Lord is my light and my salvation....The Lord Jesus is the strength of my life...."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that I am Yours and You are mine. Amen.
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I think we started off a little too energetic. After taking a couple of weeks to recover from the ice-slipping accident, and getting out of shape, yesterday, and a whole day at that on the streets, really got to me. I know we can count on some of you praying for our "renewed strength."
I think we started off a little too energetic. After taking a couple of weeks to recover from the ice-slipping accident, and getting out of shape, yesterday, and a whole day at that on the streets, really got to me. I know we can count on some of you praying for our "renewed strength."
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
